February 2015

02/28/2015

First, here's a photo of Sweden in winter (1940s?) that looks like the place in the painting.

Now, here's the painting. Tali Paul was my grandfather Bengt Paul's sister, and the twin of Hedda Paul, who was also a painter. I love this painting. A close-up follows so you can see the brushwork. Click on any image to enlarge.

02/25/2015

Mike Patton came across this Broil-Air in a farm shed/shop he had visited to help a friend restore an MG. He ended up making a trade for it. It has this unusual ceramic coating to the heat shield and charcoal basin. I think it may have been added later but who knows, maybe some of them came that way out of the box. It would have helped the rust problem. Anyway, it's a really nice looking unit and Mike is going to fix it up and keep us updated on his progress. He may have the missing tray fabricated by the same folks who made Adam Gibson's, Tucker Ornamental in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Looking forward to hearing how it goes!

02/21/2015

RACONTEUR is a comic published by Mike Lynch. It's "a collection of true stories written and illustrated by cartoonists who usually specialize in other formats." Isabella's four-page piece is called "The Miracle of Mt. Rushmore." You can buy an issue for a mere $5 here. Below is a sketch of Isabella, in class.

02/20/2015

In North Tonawanda, NY, Dick Grapes was a respected citizen and long-time announcer of the high school football games. In Barbershop circles, he was world famous as a member of the Buffalo Bills. Below you can listen to the interview he was kind enough to give me in December, 2010. What an amazing life he led. And what a voice.

02/17/2015

Frequent blog contributor and master BFG restorer Adam Gibson just bought his first Broil-Air at auction. Take it from me, it'll be better than new when Adam is done with it. Here's his report:

"I was at work late Monday when I got an email from Rusty Phelps, the gentleman I bought my two Buffalo Forge Grills from before. He resides just over the border in Fort Erie and had sent me an email informing me that there was going to be an auction Wednesday evening in Batavia. In the auction was a Buffalo Forge Grill and he wanted to let me know so I could try and get my hands on it. Only problem was the auction started at 4:30 and I work till five in downtown Buffalo. Also there was some bad weather slated for that evening.

"Anyway I was able to leave work at 3:30 and drive the 45 minutes to the Batavia auction (Company Name, Bontrager Auction). At around 5:45 pm the grill finally came up for bid and I was in a bidding war with another subject there. I was excited as this was my first ever auction and really wanted the grill and I ended up getting it. I had to pay 8 percent sales tax and another 13 percent on top of the selling price.

"The person who had it before put the blower in upside down so that is why it looks like that. Brace yourself Jim for a grill taken with pictures of it outside in the snow cause that will never happen with me again. With that being said looking for a grill to restore and save is a year round adventure. So here are the pictures. I do not know a lot of history about the item as to where it came from originally but someone painted the wheels and most of the Forge red. Obviously when I am done with this it will be an absolute gem and be for sale!"

Thanks, Adam! Please keep us posted about the restoration. I'm sure plenty of people will want to buy it from you once it's done.